About Us

Dr. Tang co-founded ChemEOR in 2005. He served as the President and CEO until April 2014. From 1999 to 2009, Dr. Tang was also the Director of the Power, Energy and Environmental Research Institute (PEERI) at the California Institute of Technology. While at Cal Tech, he acted as principal investigator (PI) and Co-PI on research projects funded by the DOE, NSF, and many large industry participants such as Chevron, Shell, Exxon, BP, ConocoPhillips, Saudi Aramco, ENI-Agip, TOTAL, Devon, PetroChina, and China Petroleum Corporation (Taiwan). From 1988 to 1999, Dr. Tang was the team leader of molecular modeling for Chevron. There he pioneered molecular modeling techniques and tools for use in both upstream and downstream applications, such as scale control, corrosion inhibition, gas hydrate control and surfactants for enhanced oil recovery. Dr. Tang graduated from Shanxi University and received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Ohio University and received a postdoctorate from Harvard University.

Dr. Mark Gudiksen joined TPG in 2008, with a focus on both healthcare and industrial biotechnology. Prior to joining TPG, Dr. Gudiksen was at McKinsey & Company where he worked on a broad spectrum of strategic topics and M&A opportunities. Prior to this, Dr. Gudiksen received his Ph.D. in chemical physics from Harvard, and his B.S. in chemistry from Stanford. His doctoral work in nanotechnology was recognized with several highly cited publications in leading scientific journals, such as Science and Nature, as well as general audience publications as broad as Scientific American and the Wall Street Journal. Dr. Gudiksen currently serves on the boards of directors of Advantek Waste Management Services LLC; Alphabet Energy, Inc.; Auxogyn, Inc.; ChemEOR, Inc.; and Nodality, Inc., and is a board observer at DNAnexus, Inc.

Mario Portela is an investor and Operating Partner with TPG ART. He began his relationship with TPG in 2009, initially as an advisor. He has broad M&A / transactional experience across all investment stages, from VC and growth to large private and public deals. Mario has extensive experience managing businesses in the energy / industrials sectors globally. He has been focused on renewables, resource efficiency, and sustainability for the last 7 years after the sale of Lyondell Chemical Company to form LyondellBasell Industries, a leading manufacturer of polymers, petrochemicals and fuels, with revenues of $45 billion worldwide. He held several C-suite management positions at Lyondell, where he was last an Officer and Vice President for Strategy and Corporate Development. Mario has a B.S. in Engineering from IMPE, Lisbon, Portugal, and has studied Finance and Marketing throughout his career at ESADE, INSEAD, IMD and Wharton. He has lived across Europe, US and South America and is fluent in 5 languages. Mario Portela currently serves on the boards of directors of Anuvia Nutrients LLC; Advantek Waste Management Services LLC; ChemEOR, Inc., and is a board observer at EBES S.A.

Chris Oversby has held a variety of global leadership positions in the O&G chemicals industry over a 35-year period. He started his career with Shell as a chemist before moving to Baker Petrolite where he was responsible for the Eastern Hemisphere Division and then latterly as Head of Global R&D, Marketing and Business Development. In 2018 he joined Clariant AG to set-up and lead their Global Oil, Refining and Mining Business unit based in The Woodlands Texas. During this period Chris transferred the Business Leadership and Technology functions from Europe to The Woodlands, Texas, and established Clariant as a major player in the US oilfield chemicals market. In late 2012 Chris joined Univar to set-up and lead their Global O&G Business Unit. This newly created Business Unit was rapidly established the fastest growing business in Univar was the driving force behind the parent company’s successful IPO in July 2015. During his career, Chris served as an Officer at Baker Hughes, Clariant & Univar and today serves as an independent board director. Chris is a Chartered Chemist by profession and holds an MBA from Leeds University Business School.